NFA West Leader Ebony Clark Honored as National "School Leader of the Year"
NFA West School Leader Ebony McDonald Clark was recognized by Big Picture Learning as their National School Leader of the Year, a distinction celebrating her ten years of transformative, student-centered leadership. Ms. Clark emphasized that her mission is rooted in ensuring every student is seen, loved, and supported. She challenged fellow educators to lead with "love in action" by maintaining high expectations and fostering a true sense of belonging for every scholar.
Reflecting on the honor, Ms. Clark shared that being recognized by an organization that has profoundly shaped her approach to education is deeply meaningful.
"This award isn’t a finish line," Clark said. "It’s a reminder and a responsibility to keep advocating for schools like Newburgh Free Academy West, where students are seen as whole people, where learning is authentic, and where every young person is supported in becoming who they are meant to be."
For Ms. Clark, education is a lifelong calling rooted in family. The daughter of a dedicated educator Mr. Ernie McDonald, a teacher and Dean at Newburgh Free Academy and a teacher assistant at the elementary level, Ebony learned early on that education is the key to finding purpose. Though she initially set out for law school, she pivoted to education with her father's lasting advice guiding her: "Baby girl, you can do anything you want to do, but whatever you decide—don't half-step—have impact."
That drive for impact led to the very inspiration for NFA West. Witnessing her brother Erin’s determination to pursue his passion for culinary arts without the benefit of a non-traditional pathway or internships, Clark envisioned a school that could accommodate different types of learners.
Today, NFA West stands as a shining example of that vision, fully supported by the Newburgh Enlarged City School District (NECSD) Board of Education and central administration, ensuring the small, specialized school remains protected and well-resourced.
Under Principal Clark's leadership for the past ten years, NFA West has embraced the Big Picture Learning philosophy, which posits that schools should be built around students, not the other way around.
Through this framework, the school has actively redefined traditional education labels and focused on caring for the whole child to provide a sense of belonging and agency over their education.
While the award features her name, Ms. Clark emphasized that the honor belongs to the entire NFA West community. She expressed immense gratitude to her "right-hand," Ms. Lakeya Stukes, and the dedicated educators and staff who show up daily with creativity, courage, and care.
She also credited former Superintendent Dr. Roberto Padilla for introducing her to the Big Picture Learning network and instilling the powerful reminder that "demography does not have to be your destiny." Clark extended deep appreciation to her regional BPL coaches, her fellow network principals, and Board of Education members Carole Mineo, Sue Prokosch, and Phil Howard for always acting as unwavering advocates for Newburgh's students.
The entire NECSD community congratulates Principal Ebony Clark on this well-deserved national honor and thanks her for her legendary commitment to the scholars of Newburgh.
This award highlights Ms. Clark's unwavering commitment to redefining the high school experience, proving that at NFA West, every student can reach their true potential. Ms. Clark was joined by Assistant Superintendent for Secondary, Dr. Elisa Correa-Soto, co-Principal of NFA, Mr. Matteo Doddo, teachers Ms. Jillian Paige and Ms. Stephanie Conte, school counselor, Ms. Lakeya Stukes, and Ms. Clark's family.
Ebony McDonald Clark is an NFA alumnus, class of 1995, Miss NFA, Prom Princess, and Senior Class President.
Click here to read the full article and speech about this tremendous achievement. Medium - February 11, 2026 - Leaders at Every Level
ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!
